Medical connector

ABSTRACT

A medical connector for use with one or more medical implements. In some embodiments, the connector minimizes or eliminates the retrograde flow of fluid into the connector from one end or port upon the disconnection of a medical implement from the other end or port. In some embodiments, the connector generates a positive flow of fluid out of the connector from one end or port when a medical implement is disconnected from the other end or port.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/361,499, filed Jan. 30, 2012 (entitled “MEDICAL CONNECTOR”),which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/924,494,now U.S. Pat. No. 8,105,314, filed Oct. 25, 2007 (entitled “MEDICALCONNECTOR”), which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/854,524, filed Oct. 25, 2006 (entitled “MEDICALCONNECTOR”), the entire disclosure of each being hereby incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The inventions relate generally to medical connectors. In particular,certain embodiments of the inventions relate to medical connectors foruse with standard luer connectors. In certain embodiments, the medicalconnectors generate a positive flow of fluid away from a medicalimplement as the implement is removed from an end or port of the medicalconnector.

2. Description of the Related Art

Medical connectors are often used to selectively open and close fluidpathways for use in treating patients. In some connectors, a smallamount of retrograde fluid flow occurs when the connector is closed,drawing fluid away from the patient and toward the connector. Thisretrograde flow can lead to clotting or obstructions in the fluid line,effectively shortening the time period during which a particularinjection point is useable. In many applications, it is advantageous tominimize or eliminate such retrograde flow or to produce a positive flowof fluid toward the patient as the valve closes.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,599,273 (incorporated herein in its entirety) includes ageneral description of some examples of medical connectors in whichretrograde fluid flow may occur. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,245,048, 6,428,520,6,695,817, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006-0161115A1(incorporated herein in their entireties) include general descriptionsof some examples of medical valves in which a positive flow of fluid isproduced away from the medical connector and toward the patient as theconnector closes. There are many different types of medical connectors,and the foregoing patents are cited merely to illustrate some ways inwhich fluid can be transferred through connectors. The methods,structures, and principles disclosed herein can be used in or adapted tofunction with the connectors (and components thereof) disclosed in theforegoing patents as well as in many different types of medicalconnectors known or used in this field.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In some embodiments, a medical connector for use with a first and secondmedical implement is described including a housing having a firstproximal end and a second distal end, each configured for attachment tostandard luer connectors. In some embodiments, the connector furtherincludes an inner rigid element extending within the housing having atleast one opening on a side thereof. The inner rigid element may besubstantially hollow in its interior with the said opening extendingfrom an outer surface of the inner rigid element to the hollow interior.A substantially hollow flexible element may be positioned within thehousing substantially surrounding the inner rigid element. The flexibleelement may include at least one inward projection on an inner wallthereof, wherein at least a portion of the inward projection may beshaped to cooperate with the opening in the inner rigid element suchthat when the connector is in a substantially closed position, whereinfluid is not permitted to flow through the connector, the portion of theinward projection is within the opening and when the connector is in asubstantially open position, the portion of the inward projection isoutside of the opening to permit a reduction in the inner volume of theflexible element and/or the interior of the inner rigid element when theconnector is in the substantially closed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus summarized the general nature of the invention and some ofits features and advantages, certain preferred embodiments andmodifications thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the artfrom the detailed description herein having reference to the figuresthat follow, of which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a medical connector in a first position and amedical implement according to some embodiments of these inventions.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the medical connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the medical connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the medical connector of FIG.1.

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of a component of a medicalconnector according to some embodiments of these inventions.

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of the medical connector component ofFIG. 5.

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the medical connector component ofFIG. 6A rotated 90 degrees.

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of a component for a medical connectoraccording to some embodiments of these inventions.

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the medical connector component ofFIG. 7A rotated 90 degrees.

FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view of a medical connector in a firstposition and a medical implement according to some embodiments of theseinventions.

FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of the medical connector and medicalimplement of FIG. 8A rotated 90 degrees.

FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view of a medical connector engaged with amedical implement according to some embodiments of these inventions.

FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of the medical connector and medicalimplement of FIG. 9A rotated 90 degrees.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

While the description sets forth various embodiment specific details, itwill be appreciated that the description is illustrative only and shouldnot be construed in any way as limiting the invention. Furthermore,various applications of the invention, and modifications thereto, whichmay be apparent to those who are skilled in the art, are alsoencompassed by the general concepts described herein. For example, anyof the structures in the devices illustrated or described in the patentdocuments incorporated herein by reference may be combined with or usedinstead of the structures disclosed herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates a male luer connector 10 with a luer end 12 and aluer lock 14 approaching a female connector 16. The female connector 16has a proximal end 18, a distal end 20, with a male luer 22 on itsdistal end. The distal end 20 may further include a luer lock. Thefemale connector 16 includes a housing 24. FIG. 2 illustrates aperspective view of the female connector 16. The proximal end 48 of aflexible element 26 is illustrated. The flexible element 26 may includean orifice 27 that is normally closed until a distally directed force isapplied to flexible element 26. FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view ofthe connector 16 in which the male luer 22 on the distal end 20 of theconnector is visible.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the connector 16 of FIG. 2.Some of the internal components of connector 16 are illustrated, such asflexible element 26 and rigid element 28. In some embodiments of theassembled configuration, an inner rigid element 30 is provided and canfit within a cavity 32 inside of flexible element 26. Orifice 27 isshown closed in this exploded perspective view. In some embodiments,orifice 27 is open when flexible element 26 is separate from housing 24.In some embodiments, contact between the inner cavity of the housing 24and portions of the proximal end 48 of flexible element 26 uponinsertion of flexible element 26 into housing 24 may cooperate tosubstantially close orifice 27 such that the fluid flow path throughconnector 16 is impeded.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of rigid element 28 having aproximal end 31 and a distal end 33. Distal end 33 may include radiallyprojecting elements 35. Radial elements 35 interact with correspondingfeatures in the internal wall of housing 24 to secure rigid element 28within housing 24 upon assembly of the connector 16. Radial elements 35extending along the longitudinal axis of connector 16 may interact withhousing 24 to inhibit rotation of rigid element 28 inside of housing 24when connector 16 is manipulated, for example when a female connector isattached to the distal end 20 of connector 16.

In some embodiments, inner rigid element 30 has multiple openings. Forexample, openings 34 can be used to permit fluid to flow into aninternal passage or fluid-flow path 36 inside of inner rigid element 30.In some embodiments, two openings 34 are disposed on opposite sides ofinner rigid element 30. Additional openings similar to opening 34 canalso be provided. In some embodiments, an opening can be provided at theproximal end 31 of inner rigid element 30. In some embodiments, one ormore of openings 34 and 38 are combined (i.e., the same openings(s) areconfigured to receive fluid and to receive one or more protrusions 52(see FIG. 7A). Inner rigid element 30 may be blunt, pointed,opened-ended, closed-ended, or shorter or longer, or wider or narrowerthan shown here. Inner rigid element 30 may have many different shapes.For example, it may be configured as a tube-like structure as shown,configured as a sleeve with one or more longitudinal openings or slitsextending partially along the length of the sleeve or along the entirelength of the sleeve, or the inner rigid element 30 may be eliminatedentirely. Inner rigid element 30 may be in a fixed position inside ofthe housing 24 or it may be moveable or floating inside of the housing24. In the absence of inner rigid element 30, one or more fluid openingsmay be provided at or near a distal region of the cavity inside thehousing to convey fluid within the housing cavity to the male end of theconnector.

In some embodiments, one or more openings 38 are provided in inner rigidelement 30, and may be located in a direction distal from opening 34. Aswill be described below, in some embodiments, opening 38 is intended toreceive a protrusion on an internal surface of flexible element 26 whenthe connector 16 is in the closed configuration (see FIG. 8A). In someembodiments, opening 38 is adapted to receive fluid flow. Where opening38 is used to facilitate fluid flow through inner rigid element 30,opening 34 may or may not be included.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate orthogonal cross-sections of rigid element 28taken in a vertical plane. In some embodiments, as illustrated, theproximal edges 40, 42 of openings 34, 38 can be flat and substantiallyhorizontal, and the distal edges 44, 46 of openings 34, 38 can beslanted or beveled.

As illustrated, the fluid-flow path 36 may extend from the proximal endof the inner rigid element 30 along a generally axially-oriented linearpath to the male end 22. In some embodiments, as illustrated, thefluid-flow path 36 in the distal region of the inner rigid element 30 isgenerally non-tortuous; for example, the fluid-flow path 36 may not turnin a direction that is perpendicular to or substantially non-parallelwith the axis of the inner rigid element 30, and/or it may not includefluid-exiting side openings in the distal region of the inner rigidelement 30. Such a fluid-flow path may provide a higher fluid flow rateand create less turbulence in the fluid flow (which can be especiallyadvantageous when the fluid includes blood cells).

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate orthogonal cross-sections of flexible element26 taken in a vertical plane. Flexible element 26 can be longitudinallycompressed and/or moved by a force applied to the proximal end 48 towardthe distal end 50. A plurality of inwardly projecting elements 52 areprovided in an internal cavity 32 of flexible element 26. In someembodiments, there is one such protrusion 52. In the illustratedembodiment, there are two protrusions 52. In some embodiments, there canbe multiple openings 38, some of which can be positioned along differentregions of inner rigid element 30, and there can be additionalcorresponding protrusions 52 that can be designed to selectively fitwithin or be withdrawn from one or more openings 38. In someembodiments, as shown, the internal edges or faces 53 of the opposingprotrusions 52 can be positioned and oriented to contact each otherand/or be close to each other when the connector 16 is in asubstantially closed position. The protrusions 52 can extend into theinner rigid element 30 at an intermediate position within the fluid-flowpath 36 of the inner rigid element 30. In some embodiments, the wall ofthe inner rigid element 30 is not positioned between the opposing edgesor faces 53 of the protrusions 52 in the substantially opened position.Openings 38 can have a variety of different shapes and sizes. Forexample, one or more of openings 38 can be round, square, rectangular,trapezoidal, elliptical, etc. Opening 38 can be larger than opening 34.In some embodiments, opening 38 can be approximately at least one-fifth,one-quarter, one-third, one-half, or more of the length of inner rigidelement 30. Protrusions 52 can also have a variety of different shapesand sizes, which may correspond to or be different from the shapesand/or sizes of openings 38. As shown, the protrusions 52 can besubstantially planar. In some embodiments, the volume of the one or moreprotrusions 52 can be approximately equivalent to or greater than thevolume in the proximal region of the connector adapted to receive theluer 12.

In some embodiments, upper or proximal edges 54 of protrusions 52 can beslanted and/or beveled. Similarly, lower or distal edges 56 ofprotrusions 52 can be also slanted and/or beveled. Slanting or bevelingthese surfaces may facilitate fluid flow through the connector 16 andmay minimize turbulence in the fluid flow. In general, the shape,materials, and structure of rigid element 28 and flexible element 26 canbe selected to allow protrusions 52 to be positioned within openings 38when the connector is closed, and protrusions 52 can be completely orpartially withdrawn from openings 38 when the connector is opened. Whenthe connector 16 is in the substantially closed position, the inwardprotrusions 52 function so as to reduce the fluid space within theconnector 16 and the fluid flow path as compared to when the connector16 is in the substantially open position.

In some embodiments, flexible element 26 can be made of silicon, and theremaining components of connector 16 can be made of a polymer materialsuch as polycarbonate. A proximal region 58 of flexible element 26 caninclude a portion with an increased wall thickness or a structure (ormaterials of composition) that contribute to the proximal region 58being stiffer or harder than the portion of the flexible element 26 thatflexes during compression. By providing increased stiffness or hardnessfor the proximal region 58, there is a lower likelihood that fluidwithin the valve will be forced back into the fluid path 32 inside offlexible element 26 as flexible element 26 expands to its originalheight when the valve is closed. Moreover, in some embodiments, aproximal portion 60 of fluid pathway 32 inside the flexible element 26has a horizontal cross-sectional area that is substantially less thanthe horizontal cross-sectional area of a region in the fluid path 36 ofelement 28, so that fluid flow out of the distal end of the connector isencouraged and retrograde fluid flow toward the proximal end of theconnector is discouraged.

In some embodiments, orifice 27 extends along an axis substantiallyperpendicular to inward projections 52, as shown in FIG. 7A. In otherembodiments, orifice 27 extends along substantially the same plane asprojections 52.

As shown in FIGS. 7A and B, proximal portion 60 may include anon-rotationally symmetrical cross-sectional diameter. In someembodiments, the proximal portion 60 has smaller cross-sectionaldiameter in the plane perpendicular to orifice 27 and a largercross-sectional diameter in the plane of orifice 27. In someembodiments, portions of proximal portion 60 have a substantiallyrectangular cross-sectional area.

FIG. 8A illustrates a vertical cross-section of the male luer 10 andfemale connector 16 illustrated in FIG. 1. In FIGS. 8A and 8B, a portionof rigid element 28 is positioned within the internal cavity 32 offlexible element 26. Inward protrusions 52 are positioned withinopenings 38, and more particularly, in the fluid flow path throughconnector 16. Fluid flow within connector 16 is substantially occluded.The proximal end 48 of flexible element 26 may be swabbable withantiseptic in a sweeping motion across the proximal end 18 of theconnector 16, and the proximal end 48 may extend above the housing, maybe substantially flush with the housing, or may be recessed within thehousing.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate an embodiment of the female connector 16after it is connected to the male luer connector 10 in orthogonalvertical cross-sections. In some embodiments, flexible element 26 can becompressed and/or moved by a distally directed force applied by the maleluer 12. As shown, a portion of inner rigid element 30 can extend in aproximal direction beyond orifice 27 during compression. In someembodiments, inner rigid element 30 does not extend further in aproximal direction than the proximal end 48 of the flexible element 26when compressed. In some embodiments, orifice 27 may automatically opento allow fluid flow through the connector 16 upon insertion of the maleluer connector 10 into connector 16.

In FIGS. 9A and 9B, the medical connector 16 is substantially open tofluid flow between the male luer 10 and the distal end 20 of the femaleconnector 16. As shown in FIG. 9A, the protrusions 52 can be partiallyor completely withdrawn from the openings 38 so that the volume insideof the fluid path 36 during the open stage of the connector 16 issubstantially larger than the fluid volume inside of the fluid path 36when the connector 16 is closed (see, e.g., FIG. 8A). This can diminish,or eliminate, retrograde fluid flow from the patient toward the proximalend 18 of the connector 16, or even produce a positive flow of fluidupon closure in the direction of the distal end 20 of the connector 16and toward the patient. In some embodiments, proximal region 58 resistscompression to a greater extent than a region on flexible element 26positioned distal from the region 58 during the insertion of the mailluer connector 10 into the female connector 16. Proximal region 58 cansubstantially maintain its height, before and after compression and/ormovement, as fluid flow is enabled through the connector 16, which mayreduce any vacuum effect in this portion of flexible element 26.

The foregoing description is provided to illustrate certain examples.The inventive concepts, principles, structures, steps, and methodsdisclosed herein can be applied to the devices and methods disclosed inthe attached patents and in many other types of medical connectors.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A medical connector for use with a firstand second medical implement, the medical connector comprising: ahousing having a first proximal end and a second distal end; an innerrigid element positioned within the housing and including at least oneopening on a side thereof and a substantially hollow interior with afluid flow path, said at least one opening extending from an outersurface of said inner rigid element to said hollow interior of saidinner rigid element; a substantially hollow flexible element positionedwithin the housing, said flexible element comprising at least one inwardprojection on an inner wall thereof, at least a portion of said inwardprojection being shaped to fit within said at least one opening in saidinner rigid element when said connector is in a substantially closedposition, wherein said portion of said inward projection is positionedwithin said opening and occupies at least a portion of the fluid flowpath of the substantially hollow interior of said inner rigid element insaid substantially closed position, and wherein said portion of saidinward projection is positioned outside of said opening in asubstantially opened position, thereby facilitating a change in an innerfluid volume of said connector when said connector is in saidsubstantially closed position relative to the inner fluid volume of saidconnector when said connector is in said substantially open position. 2.The connector of claim 1, wherein said flexible element furthercomprises an orifice on a proximal end thereof.
 3. The connector ofclaim 2, wherein said orifice is naturally biased to an open positionwhen said connector is in said substantially open position.
 4. Theconnector of claim 2, wherein said inner rigid element penetrates saidorifice when said connector is in said substantially open position. 5.The connector of claim 2, wherein said change in said inner fluid volumeof said connector establishes a flow of fluid out of the distal end ofsaid housing upon the removal of a medical implement from saidconnector.
 6. The connector of claim 2, wherein said portion of saidinward projection includes a slanted surface on a distal side thereof tofacilitate the movement of said portion of said inward projection intoand out of said opening in said inner rigid element.
 7. The connector ofclaim 6, wherein a proximal side of said opening in said inner rigidelement comprises a slanted portion cooperating with said distal side ofsaid inward projection to further facilitate the movement of saidportion of said inward projection into and out of said opening in saidinner rigid element.